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Looks like they are going after a Z4 look.

 

more wheelbase.

 

That muffler is tiny!

 

but the wing with the brake light is huge

 

Most of those body panels belong on a late NC. How are they sure it is an ND test mule? If they are using an NC's body panels, then I'd think the only parts that matter are going to be under the skin.

What's the source? There isn't even a hint of this on Miata.net yet.

 

Its perfectly plausable that it is a test mule, not all mules are built to test the body work. This for instance could have the new engine or testing out the next gens software.

 

Entirely agreed, which makes the "spy shots" largely pointless if they aren't taking pictures of what is actually being tested

Just not seeing much grounds yet for calling this an ND mule, so curious about the source.

 

its 4 lug vs 5, so there is something going on under the skin. i wonder WTF is going on with the headlights too, but yeah the outer skin is just stock miata.

Mazda does this all the time, there are pics of the FC bodies with FD suspension/running gear in the yamaguchi book

 

Yeah, the Renesis was tested out in the ND. Good catch on the lug pattern

 

4lugs. longer wheel base and its a bit taller on the sides i think. thats why there is no body under the door. they couldnt make the nc bits fit. so that makes this the new chassis

 

Uhm, why a longer wheelbase? Weren't they trying to make a "sportier, more fun to drive" Mx5 to go back to their NA roots?

 

If you look carefully this car hood is longer than nc i am sure it is test mule happy to see this wait to see next RX

 

Yep it is a mule with some NC Panels loosely put on, remember is this a SA Platform, they (Mazda) uses the flat rectangular rear muffler on new 6 and CX-5 and BM Series 3.

The unusual part are the 4 wheel studs, where all current Mazda's (except Mazda 2) are 5 stud, not that is really means much....What does Alfa Romeo use?

Atm there is also one being tested out on New Zealand hill country roads and then being shipped to Oz.

Another link out in gossip world..

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-...dster-project/

 

Maybe they think weight reduction for using 4 stud i guess it has 17'' wheels

 

The wheels are 16s according to some close inspectors on Miata.net.

I would expect that the lug pattern is 4x100, and probably using the same hubs as the Mazda2. Sharing rolling gear between the Mazda2 and the ND Miata makes sense, same as how the NC Miata shares lots of gear with the RX-8, and the NB/NA shared with the RX-7s. A logical cost reduction choice.

Still, smaller wheels, smaller hubs, etc... all point to what everyone wants, a far lighter car.

Someone on Miata.net scaled the car pictures with the ND using the wheel size as a basis, and got about 1.5 inches shorter nose to tail, a bit over half an inch lower to the ground, and almost 2 inch longer wheelbase.

 

AFAIK the new ND will have a all new roof top, only one type available, it will be a manual sliding type of hard plastic drop top...'a' PRHT will not be used because of cost and weight.

 

Is that a spoiler with built-in break light? lol

 

f1x3d that ...